The origin of the word gringo has been speculated to be born from multiple scenarios; one claim is that it arose from the song “Green Grow the Rushes, O”. This song is sung by the American soldiers during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). The idea was as stated by Nellie Bly, is that Mexicans only heard the lyric “Green Grow the Rushes, O”. As a result, from the Mexicans point of view, the first two words sounded to them “grin go” combined gringo, they then continued to refer to the American soldiers as that. Another claim, also during the Mexican-American War is regarding the American soldier’s green uniforms. When urged by the Mexicans to leave they allegedly said: “green go away”. However, both these claims have no actual evidence to …show more content…
back them up instead the true origin of gringo is from a medieval Latin proverb, Graecum est; non potest legi translating to “It is Greek; it cannot be read” it is used when referring to something that doesn't make sense. When you look at the Spanish version of this Latin proverb, hablar in griego, to talk in greek. Gringo was a phonetic alteration of griego which was explained by Esteban de Terreros in his dictionary, El Diccionario Castellano, “Foreigners in Malaga are called gringos, who have particular kinds of accent that deprive them from easy and natural Castilian speech, and in Madrid the name is given especially to the Irish for the same reason”. Now as for the meaning of gringo the Dictionary defines it as “A person from an English-speaking country: used as a derogatory term by Latin Americans.” This term has two sides the good and the bad.
Meaning it could simply be used to refer to a foreigner or humorously or it can be used in an offensive way. It could imply that the foreigner is someone who doesn’t respect Hispanic/Mexican culture and does not treat Hispanics/Mexicans good. The meaning of the word depends on the context, who’s using it, and how the other person defines it. When Sally McConnel-Ginet tries to define queer she makes it clear that the way groups understand terms that refer to a specific group of people will vary and as time passes their understanding will change (McConnel-Ginet, 2002). For example, when Mexicans utilize the word gringo it is usually is referring to white people. Personally, I have heard it used in both a positive and negative ways; I have been called a gringa in both connotations. In a positive connotation, family members have called me a gringa because I speak and write English. Also because I have a paler complexion. On the other hand, I have been called a gringa by a Spanish teacher I had. The difference between these two is the context, who is using, and the speaker’s tone, when it comes to derogatory words, in this case, the context and speaker is key. In the positive connotation, I am being told by a family member, someone I am close to. Also, consider the idea that white
people are superior just because of their education and skin colour. Taking this into consideration, I was able to conclude that my family member was not using the term in a way to offend me. Whereas in the negative scenario, the setting was in my Spanish class specifically spanish for spanish speakers meaning it was for speakers who were fluent in spanish and most likely their first language; spanish is my first language. So when my teacher called me a gringa I took offense. Not just that coming from someone I am not close to, in my mind I instantly thought if it as a negative connotation unlike the scenario with my family member. These are just two of my personal experiences but Mexicans are not the only group of people who utilize the term. The "Diccionario Castellano" (1787) says gringo was used in Malaga for "anyone who spoke Spanish badly," and in Madrid for "the Irish." Whether the word gringo is offensive or not depends on both the speaker and the receiving end. The meaning of the word gringo has changed over time, now more than when it first arose, it is being used as a word that discriminates foreigners/white people because of the tension caused by the president’s views of foreigners in this case Mexicans (regarding immigration and the desire to build a wall) at the moment. It’s spiked the rise of racism not only white people towards Mexicans but also vice versa. For this reason, I believe if someone uses that word gringo the receiving end would instantly take it as an offense. Unlike before if someone were to be referred to as a gringo it just meant you were a foreigner.
Cinco de Mayo is usually confused with Mexican Independence day but that day is when Mexico fought French invaders. During 1910, Mexico revolted against its repressive rulers and adapted its new constitution. They came up with the term for those who were told in Mexico they weren’t Mexican and in America who weren’t American. They wanted to belong to both. While the Civil Rights movement is mostly known to give African-American rights but, Chicanos also fought for their rights. The term Chicano first became accepted during the Chicano Movement. Thus, Chicanos have many things to be proud of. Their Aztec ancestors were intelligent people who built a city on water and made all Chicanos royalty. Along with their Mexican ancestors won two revolutions and won against the huge French army. Trinidad Sanchez Jr., a poet, wrote about Chicano pride in his poem, “Why Am I so Brown?” Sanchez wrote the poem in order to call attention to that all should be proud of their skin color. His poem talks about Chicanos having honor in their skin color by using imagery, metaphors, and
This was during World War II. The translation in Spanish was "arm-man—labor man", as in the United States needed the strong arms of Mexican workers because the country was experiencing a difficult time during the war (bracero Program). Because of the bracero program, many Mexican workers entered into the United States, and change their lives. They could afford to have money to help their families with housing, food, and education for their children. However, in 1964, “ there had been numerous reports that the [workers that participate in the Bracero program] were underpaid, overworked, harassed, and housed in poor living conditions.” So the United States Department of Labor officer in charge of the program called it “legalized slavery” and the Congress terminated the program in 1964 (The Debate over Guest-Worker
...the use of both the Spanish and English languages and the description of a meal of menudos, gorditas, and Coca-Cola symbolize Josie's two identities--Mexican and American.
In the years following the Spanish conquests, the southwest region of the United States developed into Spanish colonial territory. Indians, Spaniards, and blacks occupied this territory in which the shortage of Spanish women led to the miscegenation of these cultures. The result of mixing these races was a homogenization of the people of various cultures that came to be called mestizos and mulattos who, like present day Mexican Americans, inherited two distinct cultures that would make their culture rich, yet somewhat confusi...
Anzaldua grew up in the United States but spoke mostly Spanish, however, her essay discusses how the elements of language began to define her identity and culture. She was living in an English speaking environment, but was not White. She describes the difficulty of straddling the delicate changing language of Chicano Spanish. Chicano Spanish can even differ from state to state; these variations as well as and the whole Chicano language, is considered a lesser form of Spanish, which is where Anzaldua has a problem. The language a person speaks is a part...
As a journalist in 1920 for the New York Herald Tribune, Sophie Treadwell was assigned to go to Mexico to follow the situation after the Mexican Revolution. (Mexican Revolution 1910-1917) She covered many important aspects of the Mexican Revolution during this time, including relations between the U.S. and Mexico. She was even permitted an interview with Pancho Villa in August 1921 at his headquarters. This interview and other events that she experienced in Mexico are presumably what led her to write the play Gringo. In Gringo Treadwell tries to depict the stereotypical and prejudicial attitudes that Mexicans and Americans have about each other. There is a demonstration of how Mexican women are looked at in the Mexican culture and how they see themselves. The play also corresponds to similar events that occurred during the Mexican Revolution.
The chile pepper is a vegetable that has been a part of Americas history. Chile peppers haave been a part of the human's diet for as long as 7500BC. Chiles are used in many Mexican and South American cuisines as whole peppers and also grinded into spaces. In Jimmy Santiago Baca's poem "Green Chile," he refers to green chiles to represent his memories of home. Jimmy Santiago Baca is a mix of Chicano and Apache origins. At the age of two, both of Baca's parents abandoned him (Poets.org). After he was abandoned by his parents, he lived with his grandparents until he was thirteen. It was during this time with his grandmother that inspires the story in "Green Chile." When Baca was 21, he was convicted of drug possession and was incarcerated. It was when he was incarcerated where he learned to read and write. In "Green Chile," Baca tells a narrative story about his grandmother cooking green chile. Jimmy Santiago Baca uses his earliest memories of his grandmother cooking green chiles to show his appreciation of his cultural traditions while also using the green chile to signify a sense of maturity.
Anzaldua also refers to herself as a “Chicana” which refers to an American woman of Mexican descent. Chicano, also is an American man of Mexican descent. She says the Chicanos speak Standard English, Working Class and Slang English, Standard Spanish, Standard Mexican Spanish, North Mexican Spanish Dialect, Chicano Spanish, Tex-Mex, and Pachuco. She refers to Chicano Spanish and Tex-Mex to be close to her heart. Everyone can relate to having a certain dialect or slang that says a lot about them or is close to their heart.
The Anglos in the corrido, meanwhile, are not one-dimensional villains but “complex figures who contain positive as well as negative qualities” (Mendoza 146). These distinctive traits of a corrido – setting, conflict, and characterization, among others – ... ... middle of paper ... ... l. “Ge-or-ge,’ she called in an exaggerated Gringo accent. He looked back.
When someone say’s “hispanic,” what definition comes to mind? Hispanics are not one nationality, nor one culture. Instead, Hispanics are greatly diverse people. Our language and cultural origins are Spanish and Latin American, regardless of race and color. Hispanics can be European, Indian, or of African descent, or any combination of the three. The culture could be linked to Mexico, the Caribbean countries, Central America, South America and Spain. Hispanics were once considered a rarity in the United States, now we are found throughout the country.
people who are viewed with a degrading or biased attitude. Many other races are treated
She demonstrates the meaning of Silent Dancing through perspective, imagery, and repetition which depicts how her culture goes through discrimination. Her thoughts become based off on the “typical” immigrant Puerto Rican decor. Furthermore, she includes the history of a girl–Niña– mocked by people in her hometown. She wanted to change who she was, not accepting who she was and the culture she was born in. Initially, the repetition of “la gringa” would overwhelm her mind. Niña becomes traumatized daily by the repetition of “la gringa” which means white female because she wanted to become more Americanized than being Puerto Rican. There is irony in this piece since she never ended up in the U.S., but isolated in the village far away from communities
Gonzalez, Araceli. “Discussion #2.” Chicano Studies 10. University of California Davis. Wellman 229. 8 October 2013.
“Green Chile” by Jimmy Santiago Baca is a personable poem of symbolism through the use of the traditional staple crop chile. The poem outlines Mexican culture, tradition, and the origin of chile peppers and how they are of importance in Hispanic life. Baca tells an intimate story of love and sacrifice and how one sacrifices for
The concept of stereotypes is what we have been created in our presumptions of a person without even having an idea of how they are. It is a common thing in our society on which sometimes it can create tolerance or intolerance toward other groups because of different ideas or traditions. The film by Gregory Nava My Family and the book by Victor Martinez Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida are clear examples of the concept of stereotypes. In addition, the film Real Women Have Curves by Patricia Cardoso demonstrates some of the ways stereotypes can affect one’s own ethnic group. Racial stereotypes can be good or bad creating influences toward a group. In this case, stereotypes can create bad influences causing misperceptions, confusion within the same